Electric clock



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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheat 2. P. L. GREGORYA ELECTRIC) CLOCK.

Patented Jan. 2, 1894.

No. 511,91-16i LnnoanAmwe couru".

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UNTTED STATES PATENT GEFICE.

FRED L. GREGRY, OF NIAGARA FALLS, NEV YORK.

ELECTRIC CLOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 511,946, dated January 2, 1894.

Application filed April 19, 1892. Serial No. 429,745. (No model.)

To al@ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRED L. GREGORY, a citizen ot the United States, residing at Niagara Falls, in the county of Niagara and State of New York, have invented certain new and nsefullmprovementsin Electrically-Actuated Clocks, of which the following is a specification. Y

This invention relates to electrically-actuated clocks; the object of the invention being to furnish an improved clock-actuating mechanism whereby the clock-train shall be pressure-actuated, and whereby the actnatin g pressure device shall be automatically retracted when it has reached a given point in its working stroke, for the purpose of continuing the operation of the clock-work so long as the proper electric current is supplied thereto.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification, Figure l is a front elevation of an electrically actuated clock-movement embodying my present improvements. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the clock-movement as seen from the right-hand in Fig. l. Fig. is aview similar to thelower portion of Fig. 1,bnt showing the clock-actuating weight and its accessory devices in a different position. Fig. el is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing the clock-actuating weight in its lowest position, and its accessory devices in a position dierent from those shown in the preceding figures. Fig. 5 is a rear view of the weightactuated gear-wheel intermediate to the clock-actuating weight and the first wheel ot the clock-train, this intermediate wheel having in connection therewith means for operating the clock during the interval while the actuating-weight is being retracted. Fig. G is a vertical section of the details shown in Fig. 5.

Similar characters designate like parts in all the figures.

My improved electric clock consists of the usual clock-train for carrying and actuating the pointers, or hands, of the clock, an electro-magnet connected with a suitable battery or source of electric supply, and a reciprocatory pressure-device intermediate to the magnet and clock-train and adapted for intermittently closing the electric circuit foreiecting its own operation. For energizing the pressuredevice-actuating magnet any suitable electric current may be used,as for instance, the current from a small primary battery such as the socalled dry battery now very generally employed. These batteries, as is well known, maintain their activity for a longer or shorter time in proportion to the frequency with which the electric circuit connected therewith is made and broken, and are of considerably greater strength when new than after being in use for a considerable time; also, the endurance of the battery is promoted by giving it a relatively long rest between the electricimpulses. In practice,therefore,when the battery is new and strong the pressuredevice will be farthest retracted, as hereinafter more fullyexplained,and the clock will be driven thereby a Vcorrespondingly long period before the next electric impulse is required. As the battery grows weaker, however, the electric impulses, these being ot less.

force, are required more frequently, and the clock-actuating pressure-device will not be retracted so far or drive the clock for so long a period.

It is one of the objects of my present invention to furnish an improved electricallyoperated clock-actuating mechanism in which the electric impulses will be effectively utilized, not only while the battery is fresh and strong, but also after the strength ot the battery is weakened by long-continued use. To this end, the reciprocatory pressure-device by and through which the clocktrain is driven, is, according to my present improvements, constructed and arranged to have a relatively long stroke when the electric impulse is strong, and to have a shorter stroke when the strength of said impulse is reduced; thereby conserving to the greatest extent possible the normal power of .the battery.

The pressure-device for actuating the clockmovement will ordinarily consist (as shown in solid lines in Figs. l, 2, 3 and 4) of a reciprocatory lever, or arm, 63, and a weight, as G4, fixed on said arm and of sufficient mass to furnish the pressure required for moving the wheels of the clock-train; but said device may consist of a suitable arm substantially as described, and a spring connected to said arm of a size and strength suitable for furnisliingv the required power. This form ot IOO - fully open pressure-device is shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, the upper end of the spring 100 being connected at 101 with the lever 63, and connected at the opposite end thereof with a pin, 102, fixed to some partof the framework of the clock. For some of the purposes of my present improvement, the spring described is an equivalent for that more usual form of the pressure-device which consists of the weighted lever; but the weight, owing to its greater momentum during its retractive movement, is deemed preferable to the spring pressure-device, in that said weighted arm strikes lthe switch with a greater force, and is therefore more sure, when the battery is nearly exhausted and the current becomes weak, to

and thus prevent any short-circuiting of theV batter In the drawings, the clock-movement is shown carried by a framework having the usual front-frame B and back-frame C, these frames being connected together by pillars D, and screws e. The clock-train consists, as usual, of the wheel 2 carried on the shaft, or

. arbor, F, and meshing with the pinion 3 of the intermediate shaft, or arbor, G, both of these shafts being journaled, as usual, in the middle portions of the said front and back plates or frames. The large intermediate gear 4 on the shaft G meshes with the pinion 5 of the escapement-shaft H, this shaftcarrying the escapement-wheel 6, which is acted upon by the usual pallet, 7, supported in the usual manner and provided with the crutch- Wire 8. The usual pendulum for operatingin connection with the wire 8 is not shown. 0n the aforesaid shaft F, which is the main shaft 0f the train of gearing, there is a gear-wheel, 60, which meshes with a similar gear-wheel, 61, that is mounted on the ratchet-Wheel shaft S. Said shaft S has freely fitted thereon a hub, or sleeve, 62, carrying the armature W,

whichmay be formed integral with said sleeve. Said armature is segmental in form, and swings close to the poles, P and N, of the magnet, this consisting of the cores 20 and 22, the connecting-piece 21, and the coils 23 and 25 on said cores respectively. Electricity is applied to the coils 23 and 25 through the wires 5.0 and 26, respectively, in the usual manner. The magnet is supported in place by attachingthe connecting-bar 2l thereof to the endbar 27 of the magnet-frame M, as shown in Figs. l to 4, where the screw 28 is for the purpose of holdin g said parts in place. The winding of the magnet i's such that on supplying the current of electricity thereto, the armature W is swung from its position in Fig. 4 to its position in Fig. 1. The hub 62 also carries fixed thereto an arm, or lever, 63, which constitutes one part of the clock-actuating pressure-device. Said arm is shown threaded for a portion of its length, for the purpose of adjusting thereon the weight, 64, when ,this is used; or the eye, 103, when a spring, as 100, is used. A pawl, 65, is pivotally attached to the switch hereinafter described,l

1 which is said arm at 66, and engages the teeth of a The pressure device acts through the pawl 65, the ratchet-wheel 67, the gear-wheel 61, and a spring 70 (intermediate to the said gearwheel audratchet-Wheel) to drive the gearwheel from which the remaining wheels of the clock-train receive their power. For preventing the retraction of the ratchet-wheel 67 during the raising of the clock -actuatingweight, a detent-pawl 88 is provided, WhOSe point engages said ratchet-wheel, as shown best in Fig. 3, said pawl being supported on a stud 89 fixed in the clock-frame.

Asa means for continuing the movement of `the clock-train and driving the clock during the raising of the weight a power-storing spring, 70, is provided,which spring is located intermediate to, and forms a yielding connection between the ratchet-wheel 67 and the clock-wheel 61, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, one end of said spring being fixed to the ratchetwheel 67, and the opposite end being fixed to the clock-wh eel 6l and so arranged with relation thereto and to the actuating-lever that during the descent of the actuating-lever, connected with the ratchet-Wheel, suicient power will be stored up in the spring 70 for continuing the movement of the clock- Wheel 61 and driving the clock-mechanism during the raising of the actuating-lever or pressure-device, and while the ratchet-wheel 67 isheld against retraction by the pawl 88. The normal movement of the ratchet-Wheel relatively to the gear-Wheel 6l is (or may be) limited by the stud fixed in one of said wheelsand engaging some part of the other wheel; this is illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 where said stud 90 is supposed to be fixed in the ratchet-Wheel 67 at one side of the gear- Wheel arms 91.

The electrical circuit for energizing the magnet consists of the two terminals 24 and 26, one of which,26, leads directly to the spool 25, while the other one, 24, is connected at 49 to the metallic frame. with the other spool, 23, through the wire 50, which leads to the contact-point, or spring, 38. When the switch is thrown into engagement with said contact-point as shown in Fig. 4, the electricalcircuit is thereby completed and the magnet-poles energized for raising the actuating-arm 63.

For making and breaking the circuit for the purpose of operating the pressure-device, a circuit-breaker or switch ofthe locking variety is provided, which,in the preferred form thereof herein shown, is constructed and organized as follows: The switch-lever 78, carrying the contact-point 86 for making the electric circuit through the terminal 38, is pivotally supported at 79 on the frame M. Said switchhas means, as for instance, the weight 87 fixed thereto, for moving it to close the circuit, as shown, for instance, in Fig. 4, when the switch is released from its locking device; and is provided with a suitabledetent-rim, as the segment SO, for engaging with a detent-pawl, or switch-lock, 82, (that is pivoted on a stud, 83, fixed inthe frame M,) and has an arm, S4, whereby it may be unlocked from the switch, as shown in Fig. et. The switch also has suitable means, as forinstance, the projecting arm 77, for operating the same on the retractive movement of the pressuredevice. As a means for effecting this operation, the arm 63 (or the hub 62 thereof) carries a switch-actuating arm, 75, which is provided with a pin or projection, 76, for engaging said switch-arm 77 on the retractive stroke of the pressure-device, and with another pin or projection, S5,for opening the switch-lock by striking said lock-arm 84 at the end of the working stroke of the pressure-device. In some cases, if it be so preferred, one other projection (not herein shown) on the arm 75, and located between the present positions of the pins 76 and 85, (the arms 77 and Si being suitably shaped therefor,) may be substituted for said separate pins or projections, 76 and 85. The detent-segment, or looking-rim, SO, is shown consisting of a series of ratchet-teeth, Sl, (see Figs. 1, 2 and 3,) arranged in the form of a segment concentric with the pin 79; but in lieu of this device I may, in some instances, use the well-known detent-device consisting of a friction-rim operating in connection with a frictional detent-pawl, or detent-cam.

The electrical terminal is shown consisting of a spring, 38, which is carried by the magnet-frame M, and suitably insulated therefrom, being supported on an intermediate block, 39, of insulating material. A suitable guard, as 40, is usually provided to prevent accidental bending of said spring.

The operation of the mechanism is as follows: The weighted -lever 63 having been raised, as for instance to the position shown in Fig. l, and the magnet de-energized, said lever begins to descend, and thus operates, through the pawl 65,the ratchet-wheel 67 and the connections above described, to turn the gear 61 on its shaft to drive forward the clocktrain. The clock-work now continues in operation, and the lever 63 gradually descends from its uppermost position to the position c shown in Fig. 3. At this time the switch-actuating arm 75 (or the projection 85 thereof) engages the switch-lock S2 (or the arm Set thereof) to detach this lock from the switch, as shown in Fig. 4, this operation being completed when the arm 63 has reached position d, as also shown in Fig. a. The switch, having been unlocked as described, is now thrown forward by the weight 87, as shown in Fig. 4, to bring the contact-point 86 against the terminal 38 and thus complete the circuit for re-energizing the magnet. This having been done, the magnet again acts through the armature V to retract the arm G8 for again continuing the operation as before. If the battery be new and the current strong, said retractive movement will carry the arm upward to the position, for instance, shown at ct in Fig. 1 g but if the battery be partially exhausted, it will retract said arm a lesser distance, as shown, for instance, in dotted lines at Y), Fig. 3. On the raising of the lever 63 as described, the arm 75, which is carried therewith in its movement, strikes the switch arm 77, and, owing to the momentum of the weight 87, throws the switch forward more or less toward the position thereof shown in Fig. 1, thereby suddenly separating the contact-point S6 from the terminal 38 and thus breaking the electric circuit. The detent S2, in the mean time, drops upon the detent-notches 8l, and locks the switch in the extreme position to which it may be carried by the blow of its said actuating-arm 75. In Fig. 1, said arm 75 is shown in its extreme position toward the left-hand; while in Fig. 4 it is shown in its extreme opposite position toward the right-hand; but, owing to the organization set forth and the weighting of the switch as described, this will, in practice, be thrown to substantially the same position, though the arm 75 may not follow up the switch-arm 77 but stops at a position intermediate to those shown in Figs. 4 and l. The effect of this construction and combination of the several parts is to insure the proper operation of the circuit breaking switch when the battery becomes weak and the current therefore only able to retract the pressure device through a portion of its maximum stroke; and by thus preventing short-circuiting and the consequent running down of the battery toward the latter part of its term of life, said term of life is very greatly extended; so that an electric clock embodying my improvements may be operated in a reliable manner by a relatively small battery for an unusually long period of time. By adjusting the weight 64 longitudinally of the arm (53, (or so adjusting the eye 103 when a lever-actuating spring is used as a substitute for said weight,) the effective power of the weight (or of the spring) may be regulated to properly correspond with the battery. In thev drawings, I have shown a vlong-radius weight, while the armature is a short-radius one, this arrangement being deemed favorable to the most effective action of the magnet and of the mechanism actuated thereby.

By the term gravity-switch is meant a reciprocatory switch-element or member operative by gravity or by a spring substituted therefor, and so arranged as to be normally self-operative to close the circuit whenever the switch-lock shall be disengaged.

Having thus described my invention, I claiml. In an electrical-clock-actuatiiig-mechanism, the combination with the clock-train having an actuating ratchet-wheel, and with the electro-magnet and its electrical-circuit, of

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lever, lever-arm and armature, are on the ratchet-wheel-actuating-lever carrying a pawl in engagement with said ratchet-wheel and having a switch-engaging-arm, the armature carried by said actuating-lever, the electrical-terminal, a gravity-switch intermediate to said electrical terminal and the switch-engaging-arm of the actuating-lever, anda switch-lock in normal open-locking engagement with the switch and located in the path of said actuating-lever-arm, whereby said switch is unlocked upon the descent of the actuating-lever and allowed to make a gravity-contact with the electrical-terminal, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. In an electrical-clockactuating-mechanism, the combinationv with the clock-train having an actuating ratchet-wheel, and with the electro-'magnet and its electrical-circuit, of a ratchet-wheel-acthating-lever carryingan armature and having a switch-actuating-arm, the planes of movement of which actuatinglines concentric to the axis-of the ratchet-wheel, the electrical-terminal, a gravity-switch intermediate to the actuating-lever-arm and electrical-terminal and adapted for contact with said terminal for energizing the magnet when released from its open-locked position, and a switch-lock so disposed with relation to said switch and aetuating-lever-arm as to retain the switch in an open-locked position when the actuating-lever is elevated and release the same upon the descent of said actuating-lever, substantially as and for the purpose described;

3. In an electrical-clock-actuating-mechanism, the combination with the clock-train having a clock-train-driving-wheel 61, and an actuating ratchet-wheel, and with the electromagnet and its electricalcircuit, of a weighted ratchet-wheel-actuating-lever engaging the said ratchet-wheel, and moving in lines concentric to said ratchet-wheel and train-driving-wheel 6l, and having aswitch-actuatingarm, an armature carried by said actuatinglever, a pawl upon said actuating-lever engaging the teeth of the ratchet-wheel, a detent-pawl in engagement with said ratchetwheel to prevent retraction thereof, an electrical-terminal, a gravity-switch intermediate to the actuating-lever-arm and ythe electricalterminal, and adapted for contact with said vterminal for energizing the magnet, and a switch-lock intermediate to said switch and actuating-lever and so constructed as to normally engage and retain the switch in an open-locked position with relation to the electrical-terminal during the ascent of the actuating-arm and located in position to be engaged by the switch-actuating-arm of the lever during its descent for releasing the switch and allow the same to makeagravity-contact with the electrical-terminal, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. In an electrical-clock-actuating-mechanism having a clock-train-driving-wheel, an actuating ratchet-wheel and an actuatingmechanism therefor, substantially as described, the combination therewith of a powerstoring spring 70, interposed between, and capable of rotating the train-driving-wheel during, and in an adverse direction to the direction of, retractive movement of the actuatingmechanism, substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. In an electrical clock-actuating mechanism ot the class specified, the combination with the vibratory clock-actuating lever carrying the long-radius projection 76 andthe shorterradius projection 85, of an electrical terminal, the switch having the arm 77 and having the detent-rim, and thepivotally-supported switch-lock 82 having the arm 84,'substantially as described.

6. In an electrical-clock-actnetting-mechanism, the combination with the clock-movement having a clock-train-driving-wheel, and with the electro-magnet and its electrical-circult, of an actuatingratchet-wheel yieldingly connected to said clock-train-driving-wheel, a power-storing device 70, interposed between and connecting said ratchet-wheel and traln-driving-wheel, a weighted actuating-1ever 1n engagement with said ratchet-wheel for moving the same and having a switchactuating-arm, an electrical-terminal, a gravity-switch intermediate to said electrical-terminal and actuating-lever-arm, and a switchlock intermediate to said switch and actuating-lever-arm, and so Vconstructed and disposed as to normally lock the switch in 'an open position with relation to the electricalterminal when the actuating-lever' is in an elevated position, and release the same when said lever is in a depressed position, substantially as and for thepurpose described.

7. In an electrical-clock-actuating-mechanism having a clockmovement, an actuatingratchet-wheel, an actuating-lever therefor, an electro-magnet, an armature carried by said actuating-lever, means for holding the ratchet-wheel against retraction, an electrical-terminal, in combination with a gravity-switch pivotally supported between the electricalterminal and actuating-lever, and a toothedsegment adapted to be engaged by a switchlocking-pawl and located in position to engage the electrical-terminal upon the descent of the lever, substantially as described, and a switch-locking-pawl located intermediate to said switch and actuating-leverin position to engage the toothed-segment of and lock the switch in an open position with relation to the electrical-terminal and having an arm adapted for engagement by the actuating-lever, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

8. In an electrical-clock-actuating-mechanism, the combination of the clock-train comprising a series of gear-wheels whose axes of rotation are in vertical alignment, an actuating-ratchet-wheel therefor, an actuating-lever connecting said ratchet wheel, an electromagnet, an electrical-terminal, an armature lOO V Le

carried by the actuating-lever intermediate to said lever and electrolmagnet, a gravityswitch intermediate to said electrical terminal and actuating-lever and with its axis of movement in substantial vertical alignment with the axis of movement of the actuatinglever, armature, ratchet-wheel and gearing of the clock-train, and aswitch-locking-pawl intermediate to said switch and actuating-lever and adapted to be thrown into and out of engagement with said switch, substantially as and for the purpose described.

9. In an electrical-clock-actuating-mechanism, the combination with a clock-movement and with the electro-magnet and its electrical-circuit, of the shaft S having the clocktrain-driving-wheel 6l thereon, the actuatinglever mounted upon said shaft and adapted for carrying a segmental armature, the segmental arrnature, the ratchet-wheel revolubly mounted upon said shaft in engagement with the actuating-lever and clock-train-driving-wheel, an electrical-terminal and actuating-lever and constructed to be thrown into an open position with relation tothe electrical-terminal during the elevation of the actuating-arm, and a switchl0ckingpawl located in the path of movement of said actuatingarm and constructed to normally engage and hold the said switch in an open position and to be acted upon by the actuating-lever in its descent for releasing said switch from its open-locked position, substantially as and for the purpose described.

10. In an electrical-clockactuatingmech anism, the combination with a clock-train, and with the electro-magnet and its electrical-circuit, of a ratchet-wheel journaled upon one of the shafts of the clock-train, a vertically oscillating actuating-lever pivotally supported upon the shaft of, and connected with said ratchet-wheel, an armature carried by said actuating-lever and capable of moving in lines concentric to the ratchet-wheel, said lever having a switch-actuating arm, an electrical terminal,a gravity-switch pivotally supported in vertical alignment with relation to the axis of the actuating-lever and intermediate to said lever and electrical-terminal, and a gravY ity-switch-lock pivotally supported intermediate to the switch and actuating-lever and constructed for engagement with and disengagement from said switch to lock and unlock the same in or from an open position with relation to the electrical-terminal, substantially as and for the purpose described.

FRED L. GREGORY.

Witnesses:

Guo. C. BOWEN, LnWIs E. SCHUMACHER. 

